If you are looking for the best interior design software, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the different options that are available. A quick search online will enlighten you to hundreds of solutions, so where do you begin?
Below, we are going to reveal more about what you should be looking for when choosing interior design software, as well as giving you our thoughts on the best solutions on the market today.
What should you consider when looking for interior design software?
Table of Contents
Before we go into the specifics regarding the best interior design tools out there today, it makes sense to go over some of the most important things that you should be looking for. This includes the following:
Custom finish options
The ability to customize the finishes when using interior design software is pivotal. It is the final, little details that matter, and can make all of the difference when it comes to landing a new client.
You want to be able to show your client what the project is going to look like when all of their bespoke wants and wishes are granted.
This is why it is so important to look for a solution that offers exceptional customization and will not hold you back with rigid templates.
2D and 3D floor plans
Nowadays, clients want to see floor plans in 2D and 3D, so finding software that enables you to do this is a good place to start.
A good interior design tool will enable you to include details on the floor plan using different colors and symbols.
Light editing tools
Aside from the points mentioned so far, we would also recommend that you look for an interior design tool that gives you the ability to edit the lighting. This is one element that tends to be overlooked, but it is incredibly important.
For example, you should be able to adapt the orientation of the sun for the purpose of creating realistic shadows, as well as being able to select sunset or daylight settings.
Of course, if you are going to be adding new lighting to the room in question, the impact of this should be reflected within the renderings of the room.
3D visualizations
Not only are 3D floor plans important, but 3D visualizations play a key role as well when it comes to choosing a good interior design tool.
3D renderings help to give you a realistic understanding of what the project is going to look like. They take away the guesswork and they give clients a clear understanding of what to expect, which can help to sell the value of the project while making sure that you are both on the same page.
Room templates or start from scratch
Last but not least, most of the interior design tools on the market today will give you the option of using a pre-made template or designing the room from scratch.
Templates can save you a lot of time, and so it makes sense to look for a solution that has a good selection of templates available, which are easy to use and adapt as required.
The best interior design solutions of 2021
Now that you have a good understanding of what makes a good interior design tool, we are going to talk you through some of the best options on the market in 2021. Here are our picks of the best interior design software of 2021:
Foyr Neo
There is only one place to begin when it comes to interior design software, and this is Neo, which is an all-in-one software provided by Foyr.
One of the great things about Neo is that it comes with a free trial option, so you can try it before you buy. New customers get 14 days to trial the service without spending a penny, enabling you to easily determine whether or not this is the right option for you.
Most users will agree that this is a tool that is very easy to use, and that is one of the main appeals. The interface is straightforward, and you do not need to have any experience in using interior design software to get to grips with this.
In fact, this tool is used by professionals and students spanning many different parts of the market, from experienced interior designs to real estate investors.
There are a lot of different features that are supported as well, including space planning, choosing paint colors, selecting various building materials, creating room layouts, 3D review, and 3D imaging.
In terms of 3D rendering, you are going to be able to save a lot of time with this feature. There are more than 50,000 models in the in-built library to facilitate this.
Simple yet effective; there is a lot to like about this cost-effective platform from Foyr.
2. Virtual Architect Ultimate Home Design with Landscaping and Decks 9.0
The title is a bit on the long-winded side, but the software provided is efficient and easy to use. Plus, the metrics can be incredibly useful in terms of getting insights into your designs so that you can make the relevant changes.
If you are looking for a tool that is going to enable you to lower your workload, this is a good option to consider. A series of wizard-based processes are used for adding bathrooms, layout kitchens, windows, doors, and even garden ponds.
The library is substantial, which is pivotal when choosing an interior design tool. Some of the most commonly used items include the likes of patio furniture, barbecues, waterfalls, fountains, lighting, seating, baths, showers, and sinks.
In fact, there are more than 7,500 different plants within Virtual Architect Ultimate Home Design, and so this should give you a good idea regarding the sheer scope of the different customization options that are available to you.
Another feature that comes highly rated is the ability to capture soft furnishings and furniture using a camera and then being able to feature these elements as part of your newly designed rooms.
3. Homestyler
If you are yet to find the perfect interior design tool for you, another option that you may want to consider is Homestyler.
If you are looking for unique and unusual furniture pieces that you do not get with a lot of the other tools out there, this is a good choice. You can have fun trying out different furniture combinations, combining the rustic with the contemporary should you wish, to come up with unique designs your clients are going to love.
You will be pleased to know that this solution has a lot of the important qualities and features we mentioned earlier, including 3D visualizations and 3D floor plans.
As this is a free tool, there are some limitations, as to be expected. You are not going to be able to find all of the design tools that come with the paid versions on the market. How much this matters to you depends on what you need the software for and whether you are a professional or a student.
However, if your budget is very limited and you are looking for a good free interior design tool to get started with, you will struggle to find better than Homestyler.
4. Architect 3D
Last but not least, another interior design tool that we recommend highly is Architect 3D. There are actually seven different versions of this tool, ensuring that all development and renovation projects are covered.
You can use this tool to assist you with your interior decoration projects. Whether you want to test out a new layout or color scheme, you can do so with ease. You can then drag and drop furniture, and you can amend the settings so that different times throughout the day are reflected.
Exploring different blinds, floor coverings, fabrics, and palettes is easy, and there are thousands and thousands of options for you to choose from!
One of the handy features of Architect 3D is that it will estimate the complete cost of the upgrade once you have made your changes. The cost is totaled based on the wall and floor area, as well as the products that you have added to the room.
Landscape modeling also comes with some of the versions, and aside from this, you can design patio and pool spaces, place motion detectors and CCTV, as well as design home cinemas and fireplaces.
A lot of people decide to go for the Gold version so that they have all of these options.
Final words on selecting the best interior design software
So there you have it: everything that you need to know about selecting the best interior design software for your needs.
With so many solutions on the market, it is important to take the time to think about the solution that is going to be most appropriate for the type of work that you do!
If you opt for one of the platforms that we have suggested above, we are sure you will not be disappointed.
